"They were really good to us and helped us all come to terms with it. They gave us a lot of time with Stephen. They were so good to us."

Stephen had worked for Darlington Council as a surveyor in the technical services section of the community services department for 12 years.

A spokeswoman said: "Everyone is very shocked and saddened by the news of Stephen's death and our thoughts are with his family and friends."

The couple moved to Ingleby Barwick about five years ago and soon became locals at the Fox Covert pub at Yarm. Stephen was the youngest member of a social group called the SOGS - or Sophisticated Older Gentlemen - based at the pub.

He also played five-a-side football for Darlington Council.

Alan Collins, a good friend of Stephen's and chairman of the SOGS group, said: "Steve was by far the youngest member of the group. He was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet - a superb character with a lot of zest for life.

"It's very sad that his life could be snatched away so suddenly. I feel very honoured to be one of his friends, he was an amazing man."

Sue Neil, licensee at the Fox Covert, said: "The SOGS have their own corner in the pub and they organise social outings. Stephen was a lovely lad. The whole pub is just devastated, it's terrible.

"He was very popular at the pub and he was a very devoted dad - he absolutely adored Abbey."

Donations in lieu of flowers should go to Middlesbrough General's Intensive Care Unit. The funeral will be at St Francis Church, Ingleby Barwick, at 11am on Friday followed by a service at Teesside Crematorium.

Friends of the family are welcome at the Fox Covert pub afterwards.

A spokeswoman for Tees Health Authority said in this case it "was not the meningococcal type" and "there were no public health implications".